JACKSON, MISS. – The Millsaps softball team split a doubleheader against LeTourneau University, claiming Game One, 7-6 and fell in the eight innings, 10-9 in Game Two at the Millsaps College Softball Complex on Friday.
Game 1, W: Millsaps 7, LeTourneau 6
Junior Julia Strain recorded her first collegiate home run, while senior Alli Nolen finished 2-for-2 with one RBI and a walk.
Sophomore Ella Morgan Sears registered two hits and one run, sophomore Allana Vasquez batted 2-for-4 with a double and two runs as freshman Hailey Peterson stood out 2-for-3 with an RBI and a run.
Vasquez pitched all seven innings, where she struck out six batters and hold the YellowJackets to four earned runs and two walks.
In the bottom of the first inning, Sears singled to center field to open the game. After advancing to third, freshman Kodi Jimmie opened the scoring with an RBI ground out.
Peterson followed by singling to center field to send Vasquez home to move the Majors along, 2-0.
Strain extended the Majors' advantage to 3-0 in the third inning with a homer to center field.
Millsaps continued stretching their margin in latter part of the inning after loading the bases. Nolen stepped in and scored Vasquez with a hit to the shortstop, moving the Majors ahead, 4-0.
Sophomore Kadence Cannon then recorded an RBI and a throwing error brought both Peterson and Jimmie home to further down the YellowJackets, 6-0.
Arena finished the inning with a fly out to left field to send Nolen to home plate with Millsaps in charge, 7-0.
In the bottom of the fourth inning, LeTourneau responded back with three unearned runs and a passed ball to shorten their deficit to 7-4.
The YellowJackets continued by erupting with two solo home runs over three at-bats to make a comeback in the bottom of the sixth down, 7-6.
Millsaps held onto their lead for the remainder of the contest to take Game One. Vasquez tallied a strikeout, pop up and fly out in the seventh.
Game 2, L: LeTourneau 10, Millsaps 9 - (8 inn.)
Sears (double, run, stolen base), Vasquez (run, walk, RBI) and Peterson (two runs, two doubles, two RBIs) all registered a couple hits in Game Two on Friday.
Jimmie (walk, RBI), Nolen (one run, walk, RBI) and Cannon (two walks, stolen base) all recorded one hit.
Peterson pitched all eight innings and only allowed just three walks against the YellowJackets.
In the bottom of the first inning, Millsaps took an early 1-0 lead when Peterson doubled to left field and scored Strain.
A passed ball then brought Peterson to third and also sent Vasquez home.
Nolen topped off the inning with a single to center field. Peterson came across home plate, extending the Millsaps lead to 3-0.
The score held until the bottom of the fifth inning when LeTourneau tied the Majors with two hits, two walks and a fielder's choice, making it 3-3.
The YellowJackets took their first lead of the matchup in the top of sixth with four runs and three hits, bettering the Majors, 7-3.
Millsaps still fighting, saw Nolen walk and advance to third in the bottom of the sixth. Freshman Brynn Arena grounded out to LeTourneau's pitcher, but scored Nolen.
LeTourneau attacked again in the top of seventh with an RBI single, pushing their margin back up to 8-4.
The Majors came alive in the bottom of the seventh inning to force extras.
An error by Letourneau brought Strain home for the inning's first run.
Jimmie then singled up the middle to plate across freshman Kristen Gilchrist to help the Majors cut the deficit down to 8-6.
The comeback attempt continued when Peterson doubled to left field and advanced freshman Ava Palumbo home. Millsaps now trailed by one at 8-7.
Millsaps then loaded the bases looking for an opportunity to tie the contest. The Majors continued to strike as Smith walked and Peterson came home, battling back to make it an 8-8 contest.
After a comeback effort by the Majors, both teams went into extra innings where LeTourneau recaptured their lead with two runs.
Millsaps applied pressure in the bottom of the eighth as Vasquez singled to right center to bring Sears home from second, with Millsaps only down by one run at 10-9.
Jimmie would then walk and Vasquez advanced to second base. However, LeTourneau ended the inning with a pair of fly outs to escape with the Game Two win.
The Majors are next scheduled to host Mary Hardin-Baylor for a noon doubleheader on Sunday, weather permitting. Live video and live stats are available at gomajors.com.
To keep up to date with everything surrounding the Millsaps College softball program follow the Majors on X and Instagram, like Millsaps Majors Athletics on Facebook or visit gomajors.com.
Founded in Jackson, Mississippi in 1890, Millsaps College is a national liberal arts college dedicated to academic excellence, open inquiry and free expression, the exploration of faith to inform vocation and the innovative shaping of the social, economic and cultural progress of our region. Consistently ranked as one of the best values in higher education, Millsaps has been praised by Colleges That Change Lives, The Princeton Review, Forbes Magazine, U.S. News & World Report, The John Templeton Foundation, and The Fiske Guide to Colleges.
